The Master of Arts in interdisciplinary studies* is a graduate program that offers the opportunity to study across the boundaries of academic disciplines and create knowledge out of multiple perspectives. Firmly grounded in the values of liberal education and lifelong learning, the program allows students to design an individualized program of study that enables them to develop a complex, nuanced understanding of human society and culture and apply their learning in professional, civic, and personal contexts.
Study in the Master of Arts in interdisciplinary studies program can prepare you to:
put your knowledge and insight to work in your community through civic activities- do professional or volunteer work in social service agencies, educational institutions, non-profit organizations, and outreach services
- enhance your position with your current employer
- continue to advanced graduate study in doctoral and professional programs.
Students and alumni in this program have served in organizations like the Bristol Crisis Center, the American Red Cross, Build It Up East Tennessee, Jonesborough Locally Grown, Good Samaritan Ministries, and the ETSU Women’s Resource Center, as well as internationally with the United Nations Development Programme and Innovations for Poverty Action. Alumni have gone on to doctoral study in fields as diverse as musicology, social work, public policy, educational leadership, and international affairs.
*The Master of Arts in interdisciplinary studies is classified by THEC as a liberal studies graduate degree, "A program that is a structured combination of the arts, biological and physical sciences, social sciences, and humanities, emphasizing breadth of study. Includes instruction in independently designed, individualized, or regular programs" (National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs).
View our past newsletters:
Intelligent.com recently ranked East Tennessee State University’s Online Archival
Studies Program, part of the university’s Master of Arts in interdisciplinary studies
degree, 15th in the nation’s “Top 43 Master’s in Liberal Arts Degree Programs” for
“Best Archival Studies Focus.” Read more here.
Click on the Concentrations to learn more:
Frequently Asked Questions
-
Who pursues a Master of Arts in interdisciplinary studies degree?
This program serves both traditional graduate students as well as post-traditional students who already have existing full-time careers or who are seeking advanced study for personal enrichment. Students are diverse: they have come from East Tennessee and the bordering counties in North Carolina and Virginia, as well as from locations across the U.S., Africa, Latin America, and Europe.
Students attend classes both full- and part-time. Core courses are offered both online and on-ground in the evenings, and many elective courses are taught either in the evenings or online as well.
Students pursue the degree to prepare for both professional and volunteer service in a variety of community, governmental, or corporate agencies and organizations; to prepare for further study in doctoral or professional programs; and for personal enrichment.
-
Who would benefit from a Master of Arts in interdisciplinary studies degree in the Gender & Diversity Studies concentration?
- Students interested in intersectionality and social justice who wish to continue their education at the graduate level, especially those with undergraduate degrees in areas such as women's and gender studies, sociology, anthropology, literature, history, or cultural and ethnic studies.
- Professionals in the social-service and non-profit sectors who wish more fully to understand the diverse populations they serve and to address their clients' needs more equitably and effectively.
- Anyone with a desire to enhance their ability to help create a more just, tolerant, and equitable society.
-
Who would benefit from a Master of Arts in interdisciplinary studies degree in the Regional & Community Studies concentration?
- Students who seek integrative knowledge and skills to equip them for service in not-for-profit community and regional service organizations; national and international non-governmental organizations (NGOs); and federal, state and local agencies.
- Those who seek advanced knowledge of the history, structure, and potential of their own local and regional communities within a global context.
-
Who would benefit from a Master of Arts in interdisciplinary studies degree in the Archival Studies concentration?
- Students who seek to become practicing professional archivists through a program of study aligned with best practices of the Society of American Archivists.
- Those who are interested in cataloguing, preserving, and contextualizing the genealogical and historical records of their family, community, church, or other cultural institutions.
-
What types of financial aid are available?
The Master of Arts in interdisciplinary studies program offers both Graduate Assistant and Tuition Scholar funding to selected fulltime students. GA and TS positions cover both in- and out-of-state tuition. (Miscellaneous fees charged by ETSU are the responsibility of the student.)
GA positions also provide a stipend of $3500 per semester in exchange for the student’s working 20 hours per week on campus. TS positions require 8 hours of work on campus per week but do not provide a stipend. Other offices on campus often have open GA and TS positions; visit the Graduate School website for more information.
Financial aid is also available in the form of scholarships and student loans. Visit the Financial Aid website or the Scholarship website for more information. International students please note: because of federal student visa policy, international students are not permitted to work off campus while enrolled at ETSU.
-
Do Master of Arts in interdisciplinary studies students have to attend full time?
Many students in this program attend ETSU as part-time students. Fulltime students (enrollment for 9 credits per semester) can complete this program in 2 years, excluding summers. But by taking only 2 courses a semester, excluding summers, a student can finish the program in 3 years, or by taking one course a semester, including 2 summer terms, a student can complete the program in 4 years. Both full- and part-time masters students at ETSU have 6 years to complete their degree programs. Please note that for federal student loan purposes, 6 credits’ enrollment is required for loan eligibility. Nine credits’ enrollment is considered fulltime for graduate students and is required for GA/TS positions and some scholarships. -
Are online, on-ground, or evening classes available?
In the fall semester, core courses in the Master of Arts in interdisciplinary studies program are taught on-ground, once per week, in the evening. In the spring semester, core courses are taught in a hybrid format (a combination of synchronous, asynchronous, and/or on-ground activities). In the summer term, core courses are taught online. Elective courses are available on-ground, in the evening, and online; this varies by the disciplinary department offering the courses. -
Can previous graduate credit hours transfer to the Master of Arts in interdisciplinary studies program?
Students with previous graduate credit may transfer up to 9 credits into this program upon approval of the graduate coordinator. These may include credits earned at ETSU as a non-degree student. Keep in mind, however, that a student must complete the degree within six years from the date of enrollment in the oldest course transferred into the this program. -
Can a student pursue both the Master of Arts in interdisciplinary studies degree and a graduate certificate at ETSU?
A student in this program may simultaneously pursue a graduate certificate as a separate program, including the Archival Studies (AVST) Graduate Certificate. (Students enrolled in the Archival Studies concentration, however, may not pursue the AVST Certificate). Hours taken as part of a graduate certificate cannot also be applied to the Master of Arts in interdisciplinary studies program. -
Do Master of Arts in interdisciplinary studies students have to write a master’s thesis?
Students may complete either a culminating project or a thesis. Find more information, here.